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Basement Risk Index™ · Community Report

Basement Flood Risk in Lake Angelus, Michigan

Lake Angelus’s Basement Risk Index is 65/100 (HIGH). 58% of homes here were built before 1960 (U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, updated Jul 2026), the biggest driver of basement-flooding risk in this region.

65BRI / 100
HIGH RISK
Ranked #33 of 116 metro Detroit communities

Data confidence: C, modeled from housing-age measures; no local flood records integrated yet. How the score is built →

Lake Angelus, Michigan carries a Basement Risk Index of 65 out of 100, ranking #33 of 116 metro Detroit communities, far above the metro median of 37. Lake Angelus is largely a postwar community: 58% of its homes predate 1960 and the biggest share was built in the nineteen-fifties, an era whose basements were plumbed before perimeter drainage was routine. Among Lake Angelus and its five nearest neighbors it carries the highest modeled risk; its housing is almost entirely owner-occupied and higher-income for the region.

Water in your basement in Lake Angelus right now?

  1. Don’t enter standing water if the power is on. Cut it at the breaker only from a dry spot, or call an electrician.
  2. Photograph and video everything before you move or clean up anything, insurance and city claims both turn on this.
  3. Michigan law gives you about 45 days from discovery to file a written damage claim with your sewer authority. Start today.
  4. Once it is safe, call a licensed waterproofing contractor. Do not wait for it to dry on its own.

Lake Angelus basement risk at a glance

Basement Risk Index65 / 100 (HIGH)
Metro rank#33 of 116
Homes built before 196058%
Peak building era1950s (24% of homes)
Median year built1957
Median home value$1,052,100
Median household income$216,908
Owner-occupied100%
Neighborhoods analyzed1

Lake Angelus's score is modeled from U.S. Census housing data; no municipal flood records are integrated yet. The Basement Risk Index is built from U.S. Census housing data and documented flood records. See our full methodology.

When Lake Angelus was built

Lake Angelus's housing is spread across several decades, peaking in the nineteen-fifties at about 24% of today's homes; a large share of the stock, 58%, predates 1960. These are higher-value homes for the metro, and basements built before the 1960s typically lack the sump pumps, perimeter drain tile, and backwater valves that became standard later, leaving many on their original clay drain tiles.

2020 or later
1%
2010s
5%
2000s
6%
1990s
3%
1980s
2%
1970s
11%
1960s
14%
1950s
24%
1940s
13%
Before 1940
21%

How basement risk varies inside Lake Angelus

We score 1 individual neighborhoods inside Lake Angelus, and the pattern is skewed to the lower bands: 0 fall in the high or very high band, 0 are elevated, and 1 are moderate or lower. The number that matters is the one for your own block, not the city average.

0Very High
0High
0Elevated
1Moderate
0Lower

What this means for Lake Angelus homeowners

Lake Angelus carries high structural exposure. Many homes here are strong candidates for a sump pump check, a backwater valve, and improved drainage before the next big storm. Among its immediate neighbors, Lake Angelus scores higher than Auburn Hills, so the block next door is a better guide than any metro-wide average.

Why Lake Angelus homes face basement risk

Basement risk in Lake Angelus comes down to two things: how old its houses are and the clay beneath them. With a large share of its homes, 58%, built before 1960 and the biggest share going up in the nineteen-fifties, many sit on original clay drain tile, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against those foundations rather than letting it drain. Communities in Lake Angelus's risk band were among those hit hardest when the June 2021 storms put tens of thousands of metro Detroit basements underwater and triggered a federal disaster declaration.

How Lake Angelus compares

Lake Angelus's Index of 65 ranks #33 of 116 communities region-wide and sits above the metro Detroit median of 37. It runs higher than its nearby neighbor Waterford Township.

Does insurance cover it?

Often not. Standard Michigan homeowners policies commonly exclude sewer backup and groundwater unless you carry a specific endorsement. Before the next storm, it is worth reading our guide on whether insurance covers sewer backup in Michigan and checking your declarations page.

What to do about it

  1. Take preventative steps before the next heavy rain. Homes in this band have the highest documented exposure in the metro.
  2. Test your sump pump and add a battery backup, power fails in the same storms that flood. See what actually keeps a basement dry.
  3. Check for a backwater valve if your home predates the 1970s; sewer backup is the costliest version of basement flooding.
  4. Extend downspouts at least six feet from the foundation and keep gutters clear.
  5. Know what help is out there. Metro Detroit runs active flood-assistance and sewer-repair programs; see which are open right now.

Hiring in Lake Angelus?

We keep public-record profiles of metro Detroit basement waterproofing contractors, drawn from their own listings and Michigan licensing records. No ratings and no pay-to-play, just the record. Browse the contractor records →

Public records of contractors whose own listings say they serve or are based in Lake Angelus: Michigan Basements.

See Lake Angelus on the full metro Detroit Basement Risk Index map →

Concerned about this score?

We connect Lake Angelus homeowners with one licensed, insured basement waterproofing contractor for a free, no-obligation assessment. Your information goes to one local pro, never to lead lists.

Request your free assessment →

See Lake Angelus on the interactive metro map →
Read the published methodology →
Browse all 116 communities ranked →

Nearby communities

Auburn Hills · 13Waterford Township · 39Pontiac · 56Orion Township · 17Sylvan Lake · 65

Homeowner guides

Does insurance cover sewer backup?What to do when your basement floodsWhat waterproofing costs in metro DetroitHow to choose a waterproofing contractorSump pump costs in MichiganBackwater valves: cost and who needs oneThe 2021 metro Detroit floodsWhat keeps a Michigan basement dry

Frequently asked questions

Where does Lake Angelus rank for basement-flood risk among nearby communities like Auburn Hills and Waterford Township?

Lake Angelus scores 65 out of 100, ranking #33 of 116 metro Detroit communities (HIGH risk). Among its five nearest neighbors it carries the highest risk: Auburn Hills scores 13 and Waterford Township scores 39.

Are Lake Angelus's homes older than those in nearby Auburn Hills and Waterford Township?

58% of Lake Angelus homes were built before 1960 (median year built 1957, with the largest share in the nineteen-fifties). In Auburn Hills, 15% predate 1960 (median year built 1991). Older housing means more basements plumbed before sump pumps, weeping tile, and backwater valves were standard.

What is the biggest basement-flood driver in Lake Angelus versus Waterford Township?

Housing age and clay soil. 58% of Lake Angelus homes predate 1960, and southeast Michigan's dense clay holds water against older foundations rather than draining it. Lake Angelus scores 65 and Waterford Township 39, so the same prevention steps apply, sized to each home.